Cimicifuga racemosa Snakeroot, Black Cohosh or Bugbane Z 3-8Majestic milky white candles covered with buds like pearls that open to frilly balls in August

Cimicifuga is Latin meaning "bug" and fugere meaning "to drive away." "Bugbane" refers to the plant's odor, repelling insects. "Cohosh" is Algonquin for "rough" referring to the feel of the root. American Indians used its roots medicinally as an astringent, poison and snakebite antidote and to stop coughing. Roots considered an aphrodisiac for women.

Clematis fremontii Fremont's leatherflower Z 4-7Purple to white nodding bells with petal tips flipped up on this short perennial - not a vine

1st collected by John C. Fremont (1813-1890) celebrated American explorer, participant in the "Bear Revolt" that made California independent from Mexico & in turn part of the United States, Governor of California, 1st Senator of California, owner of a California gold mine, abolitionist, 1st candidate for US president on the Republican ticket and Civil War general fired by Lincoln for freeing the slaves of Missouri. After accumulating fabulous wealth and spending it all, he died in poverty in New York.

Classic - dainty alabaster white bells perfume the air

Size: 9" x Spreading.Care: part shade to shade in moist to well-drained soil. Drought tolerantNative: north temperate zones in the world.

Cultivated since at least 1000 B.C. The Norse goddess of dawn adopted it as her special flower. One legend claims the plant first appeared on the spot where St. Leonard shed blood while slaying the dragons. 17th century herbalists used Lily of the Valley to improve memory and strengthen the heartbeat. Grown by Jefferson.

Coreopsis is Greek meaning “buglike” referring to the seeds looking like little black bugs. Thomas Nuttall 1st collected this flower in 1815 about 20 miles NW of Savannah along the river. He described itsnative habitat: “in open grassy swamps from New Jersey to Georgia…” William Robinson, father of the mixed perennial border called this “a neat and pretty plant.” In 1913 Sanders wrote that it “make(s) a brilliant display of color (when) grown in masses in sunny borders.”

Abnaki Indians used this to cure side pains. Algonquin made a cathartic tea, cured colds and stomach aches and Delaware reduced body pains. Chippewa, Cree and Eskimo smoked the berries. Probably 1st collected for gardens by John Bartram. Offered for sale in Bartram Garden’s 1783 Broadside, America’s 1st plant catalog. “One of the prettiest plants for the bog garden or the cool parts of the rock garden.” William Robinson, 1899. Pressed specimen in Emily Dickinson’s herbarium.

Corydalis lutea Pseudofumaria lutea Z 4-8Yellow trumpet-like clusters from late spring - fall. One of the few shade perennials that blooms non-stop.

Corydalis is Greek for "lark" korydalos, referring to the shape of flower, a lark's spur. Lutea means "yellow." According to 16th century herbalist Culpepper, "Saturn owns the herb" so Corydalis lutea cured Saturn's diseases of the liver, spleen, leprosy, scabs, itches, cholera, salty blood, jaundice, melancholy, plague, pestilence and red eyes. The Greek Dioscordes claimed that it "hinders fresh springing of hairs on the eye lids." Since 1800's in U.S.

Described by botanist DeCandolle in 1818. “A beautiful little herbaceous hardy plant, well adapted for growing in beds so as to form a mass of colour, Thus treated, its numerous heads of bright pink flowers are extremely ornamental. ..It was found by the Russians upon rocks among the mountains of the province of Ghilan in Persia.” Edwards’s Botanical Register (1838).

Dalea named to honor English botanist Dr. Samuel Dale (1659- 1739.) Chippewa, Meskwaki and Navajo used medicinally – as remedies for heart ailments, pneumonia, diarrhea and measles. Comanche and Lakota chewed the root like gum, for its sweet taste. Pawnee made brooms from the flexible stems. 1st collected by Frenchman André Michaux (1746-1802) who spent 11 years in America collecting hundreds of new plants. Bailey described the flowers: “a constant succession of showy spikes of flowers…”(1933)

Size:4’ x 12” Care: sun to part shade in moist well-drained soil. Do not cut back in fall. Delphiniums have hollow stems where moisture will collect and kill the plant (crown rot) over winter. Native: Siberia & central EuropeIntroduced to English gardens by 1578. One of the parents of today’s border hybrids. Pressed specimen in Emily Dickinson’s herbarium.

Delphinium, named by Dioscorides,is Greek for “dolphin” due to the resemblance of the flower shape.Cultivated by Jefferson at Monticello where he planted it in the NW quarter of the outer border in March 1811.

In 1933 English author George Phillips described the origin of this hybrid: (Delphiniums, their History and Cultivation): "Mr. Karl Forester, the famous hybridist of Bornheim near Pottsdam, has been cross-breeding Delphiniums for the past 16 years... This German strain had as its original parents the species elatum, grandiflorum and Belladonna, and the ideal at which Mr. Foerster is aiming is a type with stems of a strong timbre such as will resist strong winds, and foliage perfectly immune from the attacks of mildew. ... Mr. Foerster's race possesses the bright and pure tones of colour that have been lacking in our own strains." Karl Forester (1874-1970) living under Nazi domination, risked it all by keeping Jewish friends & workers. After WW II his nursery was the only perennial supplier in East Germany.

Delphinium grandiflorum 'Blue Butterfly' Z 4-8Picture a dangling cornflower blue elf cap for the flower. Blooms in June and repeats if deadheaded.

Dr. Johann Ammann sent the seeds of this Delphinium from the Imperial Academy at St. Petersburg to Peter Collinson in England in 1736. 'Blue Butterfly' selected by 1900. Gertrude Jekyll, mother of the mixed perennial garden valued 'Blue Butterfly' for its "pure blue," late 1800's.

Delphinium, named by Dioscorides,is Greek for “dolphin.”In 1597 Gerard wrote that the Delphinium leaf paralyzed scorpions and all venomous beasts. D. x formosum called “the finest garden hybrid” of the early 19th century. It was “raised by Mr. G. Moore, a nurseryman of East Dereham, Norfolk.” George Phillips,(1933). ‘Belladonna’ selected in 1800’s as cutting flowers. Blooms last long in the vase. In the July 1872 issue of The Garden Wm. Robinson called this “too seldom seen” and “a great ornament.”

Desmanthus illinoensis Prairie mimosa, Illinois bundleflower Z 5-9

frilly white flowers turn to fun seedheads - great foliage

Desmanthus illinoensis Prairie mimosa, Illinois bundleflower Z 5-9This legume bears round heads of frilly white flowers that turn to interesting spherical seed pods persisting all winter. Sensitive plant-like foliage, touch and sunlight cause leaves to fold. Size: 4’ x 3’ Care: sun in moist well-drained to dry soil. Looks like a shrub but is a perennial. Native: Ohio to Florida and west to New MexicoWildlife value: Seeds are food for birds including the Ring-Necked Pheasant, Bobwhite Quail, and Greater Prairie Chicken.Desmanthus is Greek meaning “bundle flower” because the bunched flowers looked like a bundle. Pawnee, Omaha & Ponca children used seed pods with dried seeds as rattles. Pawnees relieved itching with the boiled leaves. First collected by French plant hunter Michaux in the late 1700’s.

Dianthus arenarius Sand pink Z 3-8

fragrant, 1-inch white, deeply fringed blooms

Size: 6-12” x 9-12” Care: sun in well-drained to moist well-drained soil. Deer resistant Native: Europe from Finland to YugoslaviaTheophrastus named Dianthus in the 4th century B.C., meaning “Jove’s flower.” Arenarius from Latin for “sand,” referring to fact that plant grows in sandy soil. This species in gardens before 1753